Lemme Fly

m3t4lhed · #1 04-15-2008, 08:09 PM

Any Pilots in here? i wanted to learn flying and it would be nice if someone could recommend good flying schools

iamlowsound · #2 04-15-2008, 08:12 PM

School for it is really expensive. Just a warning.

lowsound

peterbright · #3 04-16-2008, 06:36 AM

Where are you & what do you want to fly? Single engine, multi engine, land, sea, rotary wing or glider? Sport, private (with or without an instrument rating), commercial, instructor or airline transport pilot?

MoD_Scotty · #4 04-16-2008, 06:49 AM

Just get a degree, then join the AF and become a pilot. Then you'll get paid to learn to fly.

FL Knifemaker · #5 04-16-2008, 08:18 AM

I fly and go boating with people that have their own toys. I just anti up for fuel

I started flying lessons years ago.........twice

m3t4lhed · #6 04-23-2008, 01:41 AM

I wanna get a CPL. im in india right now.

peterbright · #7 04-23-2008, 05:20 AM

Here...that would cost you a bundle. Start saving.

Bassic83 · #8 04-23-2008, 05:36 AM

I got my Private in 03, I started a couple weeks before my mom died in 02 (which they say NOT to do- stressful time and all), and I found it to be a fantastic way to drain the excess cash out of your bank account, not to mention it was an outlet for me. My daughter grew up out at the airfield, from age 18 months to about three years old, and she loved it! I stopped flying almost three years ago, due to budget restraints. I simply can't afford to play bass AND fly. Interestingly enough, my last instructor (I had about 10 of them!) was from Hyderabad, India. Nobody would fly with him because they couldn't understand his accent- except me. So I had him for the last 6 hours- like having your own personal CFI at your beck and call! We got along great in the cockpit, and I believe he now flies for Air India on the Mumbai-Madagascar run.

If you want some inspiration, one of the guys here on TB has a mailing list going for propheads- PM "bmc" for details. There are a few of us here that are on it, and he has some really great stuff!

For a flying website, I'd recommend StudentPilot.com, that's where I hung out a lot during my training. Perhaps someone there can help you find a suitable school near where you are. Flying is one of my passions, has been since I was a little kid. Good luck in your endeavors, it is expensive, though...I think I spent $5400 getting my private ticket.

The last flight I made was actually to deliver a bass amp to another TBer over in Austin! That was a trip!

bmc · #9 04-23-2008, 10:29 AM

Bassic83 · #10 04-23-2008, 10:32 AM

^ Yeah that guy hiding behind that wall there...

bmc · #11 04-23-2008, 01:34 PM

Ok I confess....I'm a propeller head. It's a hobby and a line of work. I'm in the business but don't fly for a living. Uber expensive over here and I will have two daughters in university in September.

The AF is a great place to start.

If you want a civilian route, I'd suggest getting a pile of cash together and handing it to a school all at once. Plan on going 2-3 times a week if you can. You will retain your lessons more, and get your license quicker in less time. I took that route and did my flight test at 51 hours, which was about 10-12 hours sooner than most.

Like Bassic said, great way to drain the wallet. If cash is an issue, and in most cases it invariably is, get a glider license and really learn how to fly. If you decide to go powered after that, the knowledge gained through soaring is so valuable. I find soaring more chalenging that flying from A to B. The whole object of the game is to cheat gravity and stay aloft. No engine or fuel to worry about. Very relaxing.

Pm if you want more info or want on my mailing list.

Bassic83 · #12 04-23-2008, 01:38 PM

Q- What's the best way to become a millionaire?

A- Start with a billion dollars and an airplane...

joelb79 · #13 04-23-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoD_Scotty

Just get a degree, then join the AF and become a pilot. Then you'll get paid to learn to fly.

+1 to this. Being an officer in the Air Force would be the best way. Cheapest and most likely to result in a high paying job in the future.. or whatever future there is if there are still pilot jobs.

I myself took ground school and signed up for commercial flight training but I was denied a 1st class medical. So I had to de-enroll from school and change majors. All said, i'm glad that I'm not there now because of all the turmoil in the workplace for pilots.

That being said, Flying is a wonderful and enjoyable past time. I hope to at a minimum be a sport pilot most of my life. At least thats one thing I can do with my 90% score on the private exam.

Bassic83 · #14 04-23-2008, 01:45 PM

Regs around here are getting tighter and tighter, and the airspace is getting smaller and smaller. There aren't that many Sport Pilots around, but those that are active sure have fun. For the type of flying I do, I could put up with the Sport Pilot restrictions in return for not flying at night- even though I did most of my training at night! I actually prefer night flying, the air is smoother, and around Houston, at least, it's easier to see traffic. The summer haze has resulted in many near-misses around these parts...

I'd love to have a Cub or AirKnocker to putt around in...I've actually considered getting a "heavy" UL and registering it as an LSA. Then I thought about the hangar cost...

joelb79 · #15 04-23-2008, 02:03 PM

I can't afford even the sport planes. Unfortunately with Gas prices toping a gallon of coffee these days, its hard to justify the costs. If I strike it rich, i'm sure i'll be flying every second I can get.

I can understand the Haze and the smother air of night flying! Never seems to fail that when I fly into Texas on the airliners that we get knocked around a bit. I found that polarized sunglasses are a wonderful thing for seeing the other birds in the sky, however they can make some of the guages hard to see, but mostly those are glass cockpits.

Happynoj · #16 04-23-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelb79

+1 to this. Being an officer in the Air Force would be the best way. Cheapest and most likely to result in a high paying job in the future.. or whatever future there is if there are still pilot jobs.

You might get shot though.

WorkinOnIt · #17 04-23-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterbright

Here...that would cost you a bundle. Start saving.

I think getting a pilot's license in the US is actually alot cheaper than in most other countries. The flight school where I got my private ticket in Houston actually SOLD out to Indian investors - they were graduating so many Indian nationals I guess it got the attention of money in India. I think the flight school owners here are making a mint due to the Indian economy booming and a shortage of pilots in India.

I have not been up since January of 2007. Since I started, the costs have soared way beyond normal inflation rates, and I just can't bring myself back to the field although I do miss it. So much fun.

Good luck in your search. The school I used is in Houston - MVP academy. I have NO affiliation except I will still rent their planes when I decide to get back into it someday.